The Barefoot Doctors program is one of the most crucial and life-saving efforts that FLC coordinates.
Burma (Myanmar) is a very poor country ruled by a military junta and barely has adequate health care
in the largest cities. Especially in the mountains of the north, there is often no doctor or clinic within
500 miles. Imagine being in Montana and having to go to Seattle to see a doctor! And it would be a
two-week trip by foot and bus, and through government checkpoints.
There have been about 150 people who have gone through the BFD training in the last 20 years. And
even more are needed! Plus, a large expense is sending enough medications and medical supplies
to the BFD's to treat all the sick people. About $25,000 is needed every year. This helps people fight
back from diseases like malaria, TB, and gastrointestinal illness, overcome injuries, and to treat the
many (life-threatening) infections which occur in the mountain villages.
Each year, 25 or so dedicated Christian men and women come to Frontierland Campus, just outside
of Chiang Mai to get six weeks of intensive medical training by doctors from the west. Also included is
dental training and bible classes. This year, FLC offered a "refresher" course to some BFD
graduates from previous years. Next year they will once again do a three-year cycle of excellent
coursework to get as many Christian "Barefoot Doctors" out in the field to help the disadvantaged and
discouraged people of Burma.
Burma (Myanmar) is a very poor country ruled by a military junta and barely has adequate health care
in the largest cities. Especially in the mountains of the north, there is often no doctor or clinic within
500 miles. Imagine being in Montana and having to go to Seattle to see a doctor! And it would be a
two-week trip by foot and bus, and through government checkpoints.
There have been about 150 people who have gone through the BFD training in the last 20 years. And
even more are needed! Plus, a large expense is sending enough medications and medical supplies
to the BFD's to treat all the sick people. About $25,000 is needed every year. This helps people fight
back from diseases like malaria, TB, and gastrointestinal illness, overcome injuries, and to treat the
many (life-threatening) infections which occur in the mountain villages.
Each year, 25 or so dedicated Christian men and women come to Frontierland Campus, just outside
of Chiang Mai to get six weeks of intensive medical training by doctors from the west. Also included is
dental training and bible classes. This year, FLC offered a "refresher" course to some BFD
graduates from previous years. Next year they will once again do a three-year cycle of excellent
coursework to get as many Christian "Barefoot Doctors" out in the field to help the disadvantaged and
discouraged people of Burma.
Here is the central meeting and
teaching room with Dr. Trevor Smith,
an Australian doctor who now works
out of Chiang Mai in his special area of
Leprosy, which is still found all around
SE Asia.
teaching room with Dr. Trevor Smith,
an Australian doctor who now works
out of Chiang Mai in his special area of
Leprosy, which is still found all around
SE Asia.
This is the new (2004) Jones Building
on the 20 acres of Frontierland
Campus. It can easily house the 25
students in dorm rooms in separate
wings for men and women.
on the 20 acres of Frontierland
Campus. It can easily house the 25
students in dorm rooms in separate
wings for men and women.
Dr. Smith brought some of his patients
out to help demonstrate the diagnosis
and treatment of Leprosy. There are
two kinds to distinguish between, but
both are treatable with medication, and
in some advanced cases, with surgery.
out to help demonstrate the diagnosis
and treatment of Leprosy. There are
two kinds to distinguish between, but
both are treatable with medication, and
in some advanced cases, with surgery.
Here, some of the Docs practice their
suturing techniques on chickens! It
was this group's third (final) year of
training, and most had already sutured
(human) patients back home.
suturing techniques on chickens! It
was this group's third (final) year of
training, and most had already sutured
(human) patients back home.
Another student with a great attitude about this
not-so-fun suturing skill to learn. She gets
coaching not only from the western Doctors, but
also some of the more accomplished students.
not-so-fun suturing skill to learn. She gets
coaching not only from the western Doctors, but
also some of the more accomplished students.
As stated above, MEDICINE is a crucial
component for the BFD's to save lives.
FLC buys some of the medicine in bulk
and then counts out the doses and the
Docs bottle it up. Sometimes there is a
delay and fines to pay at the border,
but this year all the medicine made it
back over the border in record time!
component for the BFD's to save lives.
FLC buys some of the medicine in bulk
and then counts out the doses and the
Docs bottle it up. Sometimes there is a
delay and fines to pay at the border,
but this year all the medicine made it
back over the border in record time!
The students spent several hours one
morning re-packaging the proper
doses of medicine. Here, they are
sorting antibiotics, which are usually
very hard to get in Burma, and of
inferior quality even when they do get
them.
morning re-packaging the proper
doses of medicine. Here, they are
sorting antibiotics, which are usually
very hard to get in Burma, and of
inferior quality even when they do get
them.
Jan Jones and Riva Belmore are both
RN's and do a lot of work organizing
the different drugs and supplies.
RN's and do a lot of work organizing
the different drugs and supplies.
Here's a glimpse of one of the dorm
rooms in the Jones building. These
men were on break, but were
practicing taking blood pressure.
Notice the excellent workmanship of
the bricks and the window casings!
rooms in the Jones building. These
men were on break, but were
practicing taking blood pressure.
Notice the excellent workmanship of
the bricks and the window casings!
This man is president of a Bible
College in Burma. I caught him
reading RC Sproul, who you might
have heard on Christian radio!
College in Burma. I caught him
reading RC Sproul, who you might
have heard on Christian radio!
Time for some soaking prayer and
sharing time. ALL these people have
incredible stories to tell: life and death
survival, demonic deliverance, and
life-saving medical miracles. Life is
TOUGH in Burma, but God is faithful!
sharing time. ALL these people have
incredible stories to tell: life and death
survival, demonic deliverance, and
life-saving medical miracles. Life is
TOUGH in Burma, but God is faithful!
Time for some prayer just before
mealtime over at the Stiles house, a
short walk through the mango orchard.
Just follow that home-cooking smell!
mealtime over at the Stiles house, a
short walk through the mango orchard.
Just follow that home-cooking smell!
Nurse Jan and Doctor
Paul Jones are co-
founders and Deans of
the Barefoot Doctors
school!
Paul Jones are co-
founders and Deans of
the Barefoot Doctors
school!
FLC Director Daniel Kalnin delivers
some words of inspiration as graduation
day nears. Each student received a
large suitcase to help carry supplies
home.
some words of inspiration as graduation
day nears. Each student received a
large suitcase to help carry supplies
home.
Jung and Beverley
deliver words of
encouragement (and
Beverley later a song)
at the Grad ceremony.
deliver words of
encouragement (and
Beverley later a song)
at the Grad ceremony.
Dr. Paul Jones wears
some beautiful Rawang
tribal clothes while
handing out diplomas at
the '05 graduation. The
students were so proud,
and so deserving after
their hard work over three
years.
some beautiful Rawang
tribal clothes while
handing out diplomas at
the '05 graduation. The
students were so proud,
and so deserving after
their hard work over three
years.
Wow! Look at these
traditional Rawang
outfits, the tribal
dancing, and of
course the ear-to-ear
smiles!
traditional Rawang
outfits, the tribal
dancing, and of
course the ear-to-ear
smiles!
| All photos copyright Robert Bowling. Please email for permission to download. |
| Barefoot Doctors Program |
You might recognize this man from my brochure if you've seen
one. Daniel and Beverley and others do Bible teaching every
week, and these Christian men and women just eat it up!
one. Daniel and Beverley and others do Bible teaching every
week, and these Christian men and women just eat it up!
Click photos to enlarge